From Fort Collins to Commerce City … (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

Some news from the Colorado craft beer world …

Fort Collins-based Odell Brewing[1] has entered into a multi-year agreement with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer that will make 90 Shilling and Odell IPA available at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the club announced Monday[2].

Earlier this summer, the Rapids announced a separate long-term partnership with Budweiser[2]. Rapids spokesman David Lindholm said Budweiser[3] is the Rapids’ “domestic” beer partner and Odell is the “craft” partner. Those are separate, non-competing sponsorship categories, he said.

In a statement announcing the sponsorship, Rapids president Tim Hinchey said fans had been asking for a craft-beer sponsorship.

Lindholm said bottles of 90 Shilling and Odell IPA will be available at concessions stands at Sections 108 and 127 and in suites for Saturday’s home game against FC Dallas. Starting with the Oct. 5 game against Seattle, 90 Shilling will be for sale on draft at those same sections, above sections 122 and 127 and at the concession stand serving the standing-only Terrace section[4].

One casualty will be the seasonal Leinenkugel Summer Shandy, a product of Budweiser competitor SABMiller that will be making way for the Odell beers, Lindholm said. Booths serving Heineken and Newcastle[5] Brown Ale will remain.

Lindholm said the move does not necessarily mean other craft beers – New Belgium[6]’s Fat Tire, for one, is sold at Rapids games – will be disappearing, just that Odell beers will be in greater abundance. Some decisions have not been made, he said.

As with all deals involving Major League Soccer, the terms of the sponsorship agreement were not disclosed.

Barrel-aged goodness from River North:River North Brewery[11] announced the forthcoming release of Rum Barrel Quandary, the first in a series of new barrel-aged brews at the Ballpark neighborhood establishment. River North said it blended two-thirds of a quadrupel aged in rum barrels with one-third fresh beer. “The result,” the brewery says, “melds the maltiness of a Belgian dark ale with the sweet sharpness of rum and oak, striking a refined balance between the beer and the barrel.” Seventy-two cases were bottled. Both bombers and draft pours will be available at a tapping party at 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 28 at the River North taproom, 2401 Blake St., Denver, and limited bottles will go to liquor stores.

Ska Brewing[12] big in ABBA’s home country: Durango-based Ska Brewing is growing in Colorado, Chicago and … Sweden, according to this Durango Herald story[13] on the recent opening of its new restaurant, The Container. Ska projects sales of 31,000 barrels this year, up from 26,700 in 2012.

Full disclosure: The author is a Rapids season-ticket holder and member of the Rapids supporters group, Centennial 38.